North State Kiwi Fest starts Friday in Gridley

Wednesday

May 30, 2018 at 7:00 AM

The Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley is kicking-off summer with a new festival celebrating the kiwi fruit! The inaugural North State Kiwi Fest starts Friday, June 1st, at 4 p.m., and continues through the weekend.The North State Kiwi Fest is the idea of Harry Mason Midway of Fun Carnival manager. He discovered that Gridley and Te Puke, New Zealand are sister cities. Gridley also has a long history of kiwi production. Thus, the North State Kiwi Fest, and its new Kiwi Mascot. A contest to name the new Kiwi Mascot will happen on Facebook throughout the North Valley. Voting on the name will take place until the morning of Friday June 1st . The official decision about the Kiwi Mascot’s new name will be announced on Facebook. A second contest will happen at the Kiwi Fest where an individual or group selfie is taken with the Kiwi Mascot then hash tagged. The winner of each contest receives a Family 4 pack to the Kiwi Fest, which includes 4 free entries into the fair and 1 parking pass. Winner of each contest will be announced on FacebookThe festivities begin at 4 p.m., on Friday, June 1st . The Midway of Fun Carnival and the Western Heritage Rodeo’s Calcutta Dinner start at 7 p.m. High Noon will be bringing their country music to the stage for your dancing pleasure 8 p.m., to 11 p.m., in Jake’s. On Saturday the Fairground gates open at 11 a.m. The Saturday events include a train and hobby show, a car show, a HAM radio exposition, contests, High School Challenge events, five live bands. At 7 p.m., the Western Heritage Rodeo, a free event begins in the arena. Be sure to check out the Fair Idol competition at 4 p.m., where contestants from all over the county compete for a chance to be a headliner at the Butte County Fair later this summer. That evening Amanda Gray with Whiskey Savage will be on Stage at 8 p.m., in Jake’s.Sunday morning, June 3rd gates open, at 11 a.m. Features will include food, fun and kiwis. The arena opens at 4 p.m., for an exciting Hispanic Rodeo. This rodeo will feature four live bands plus an exciting style of Bull Riding all rolled into one show for $25.Pre-sale carnival tickets are available at a discount until May 30th at select locations, Casa Lupe Market in Gridley, Mac’s Hardware and Rental in Gridley, El Rancherita in Live Oak, Wheeler’s Ranch and Feed in Biggs and the Butte County Fair office. Tickets for the June 3rd Hispanic Rodeo can be found online at rvrenterprises.com.Parking and entrance to the Kiwi Fest are FREE! For more information, please visit the North State Kiwi Fest’s Facebook page or call the fair office at (530) 846-3626.

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